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Goodreads description--A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.

We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.

But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them.

I have to say that the concept for Parasite is one of my worst nightmares. As a child, I remember hearing about tapeworms and being utterly terrified. The idea that humanity would begin purposefully ingesting tapeworms for medical reasons is literally a scene out of my nightmares. Although, it's not like tapeworms haven't been marketed to human beings before--for dieting reasons.

Because Parasite is so long, it felt like it took me forever to read it. I think this is where physical book copies come in handy. Knowing I've read 50 pages in a book is a lot more motivating than only seeing 10% move in my progress bar on my kindle.

The description above does a great job of giving an overview of the big picture without telling you anything about the characters involved in this story. Our main character is Sally who was involved in a car accident and was almost declared brain dead before she was implanted with her bio-engineered tapeworm. Her tapeworm saved her live and she has now become the poster child for the Intestinal Bodyguard and SymboGen, the company that created it.

However, all is not as it seems. That fact was easy to pick up on, but not so easy to nail down what was actually going on. About halfway through I felt like it became obvious to me what was going on with Sally, but the book doesn't spell it out until literally the last couple of pages. So the big revelation, or what should have been the cliffhanger, didn't feel like a big revelation or cliffhanger at all.

I've heard great things about Mira Grant's Newsflesh series and so I wanted to get hooked into this horrific world she's created where people purposefully ingest tapeworms, but something was just missing for me. The characters were okay. Minus Tansey. I think she was designed to be comedic relief maybe, but she just fell a little flat to me.

While the plot was intriguing enough, the execution was just missing something for me. The characters were missing something. I don't really know how to put my finger on just what it was. I wasn't dying to put it down, but I wasn't dying it pick it up either. I wasn't sure I could predict what was happening, yet I did predict what was happening.

Goodreads description--Luke Price's life has always been about order, control, and acting tough on the outside. He uses meaningless relationships as a distraction and a way to tune out the twisted memories of his childhood. He secretly wishes that one day he could find that one perfect person, but deep down he doesn't believe that perfection really exists.

Violet Hayes has had a rough life, surrounded by drugs, neglect, and irresponsible parents. She thought she could escape that kind of life when she went to college, but her past catches up with her. To protect herself from getting hurt, she acts tough and keeps her distance from everyone. But then she meets Luke. The two of them clash, yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. The more they get to know one another, the more they realize just how similar their lives are, and that maybe the perfection they've always been looking for lies in each other.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

I didn't hate it like so many others have. But it's possible I might have had I not been expecting an epically frustrating ending. Though I never read any spoilers, just knowing so many people were disappointed with the ending had me lowering my expectations and put me into a mindset to accept whatever might be coming.

At this point I've got my review scheduled for November 15th due to other posts already being scheduled ahead of time. Of course, you'll know if I change my mind!

*sigh* And now I can breathe easy knowing what happens. And I can get back to my life and my severely neglected husband.

It's Halloween--well close enough--my peeps!!! I just love this holiday. Maybe it's the trees changing colors and leaves falling. Maybe it's the cooler weather. It's definitely not the college football. But whatever the reason, I love this season. And so with the last week of October rapidly coming to a close, let's take a look at the scariest looking book covers that I could find.

1) The Woman in Black by Susan Hill - Tell me that cover isn't a little be freaky.2) This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers - I love this cover. From the color to her hair and the position of her body to the blood sprinkled in the top left corner. Perfect cover for this book.3) Ten by Gretchn McNeil - This one is just the idea of what scary things might take place on a deserted island. Especially with a serial killer running around.4) Deadlocked by AR Wise - Man, does that Deadlocked cover not have an impact? It's the coloring, the expression...impactful.5) It by Stephen King - How many people aren't scared of clowns after this book? I haven't read it myself, but I know the gist of it.6) Cujo by Stephen King - I'm not 100% sure what's going on with this cover, but it gives enough of a scary impression for me to steer clear.7) Insomnia by JR Johansson - Again, I don't know 100% what's going on with this cover, but it freaks me out a little.8) Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson - Is that a mirror? It almost looks like a creepy stalker person staring into a fogged up window somewhere. Gives me the hee-bee-jee-beez.9) Uncle Silas by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu - Chick on the cover looks like the perfect victim of a possession. Am I right or what?10) Wake the Wicked by Christian Baloga - And yeah...I have no words for this one.

What about it? What are the scariest book covers for you? Let me know!

Monday, October 28, 2013

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Goodreads description--The Deadlocked series continues as Billy heads into the city in search of his mother. During his quest, he will meet a strident military figure that will alter his journey and two brothers that will become his closest allies. However, his trip will endanger the family he has only just met, and he might not be able to save them.

Billy's journey into the city will reveal many of the secrets of this penultimate novella. No characters are safe from the terror that has engulfed the city, and as the motives of those in charge begin to be revealed, the fate of all mankind will be in question.

Keeping with AR Wise's pattern for the Deadlocked series, Deadlocked 3 switches from Laura's POV to Billy. Billy is leaving Laura and the girls at the docks and heading into the city to find his mother. Billy's story and Laura's story (Deadlocked 2) actually take place simultaneously unlike Laura and David's story (Deadlocked) where Laura picks up where David left off.

Billy's a likable character. He's a good guy, and he's trying to hold onto that through this horrible new world he's found himself in, yet it's practically impossible when there are enemies on every side. And to be truthful, Billy isn't even sure who all his enemies are. It's kill or be killed. And Billy has to do what it takes to survive and make it back to the docks where Laura and the girls are.

The thing that I like about this series by AR Wise is that the characters don't just have everything handed to them because they're the main characters. Sometimes the main characters die. But situations like shooting a pad lock don't always work out for the main characters of Deadlocked. And truthfully you just never really know what will happen.

I did find Deadlocked 3 to be very much less gruesome than Deadlocked 2. Laura's story was brutal. And in some ways it seemed like Billy had it a lot easier than she did. But at the same time, not every character's experiences will be the same. Of course, like the other stories, Billy comes across other characters who have all kinds of intentions.

I wasn't sure about the addition of Levon and Mark. Levon seemed to be a play on a stereotype which I typically get annoyed with, but Mark balances him out I think. And then there's Captain Reagan who we're told will play an crucial part in Deadlocked 4.

As with the other books, I enjoyed the author's notes at the end. AR Wise explains his thinking process in a way that gives more meaning to the series. I sometimes wish all authors would do the same thing. There are just so many thousands of decisions authors make throughout the writing process that make the stories into more than they appear on the surface.

Deadlocked 3 does have a ton of cursing. There are f-bombs left and right. While I understand this is the apocalypse and people probably aren't all concerned about their language, I don't see everyone in the world suddenly developing a need to drop f-bombs like this. This also falls into one of my frustrations with authors who don't differentiate enough between characters. Not every character thinks, talks, or acts the same way. And I think a lot of times authors fall into the trap of writing only characters who behave and speak exactly the way the author themselves think, act, and speak. I imagine it's difficult to make each character unique in all aspects, but this is one that is important to me. While AR Wise's characters definitely have distinct personalities, I have picked up on them having too similar (for my taste) speech patterns.

All in all, I'd give Deadlocked 3 3.5 stars. It's a really solid zombie read, but not as intense as Deadlocked 1 or 2. Have you read Deadlocked 3? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my "All Things Halloween" October review event.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~
It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This past work week was pretty slow. But it was a good week. Nothing to complain about. Helped host (though I didn't do that much work) a Fall/Halloween event Friday night that was a lot of fun! And then Saturday was all about rest and relaxation. Finished Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky, # 3) by Veronica Rossi...so know what that means? Allegiant (Divergent, # 3) by Veronica Roth! YAY!!!

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Goodreads description--One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

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Goodreads description--From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ella and Micha series comes a gripping story of passion, pain, and the courage to love . . .

THE TEMPTATION OF LILA AND ETHAN

On the surface, Lila Summers is flawless: good looks, expensive clothes, and a big, beautiful smile. But a dark past and even darker secrets are threatening to bubble over her perfect façade. She'll do anything to keep the emptiness inside hidden-which leads her into situations that always end badly. Whenever she hits bottom, there's only one person who's there to pull her out: Ethan Gregory.

Ethan set the rules a long time ago: he and Lila are just friends. He doesn't do relationships. Although his tattooed, bad boy exterior is a far cry from Lila's pretty princess image, Ethan can't deny they have a deeper connection than he's used to. If he's not careful, he could be in serious danger of becoming attached-and he's learned the hard way that attachment only leads to heartbreak.

When Lila falls farther than she ever has before, can Ethan continue to help as a friend? Or is he also getting close to falling . . . for her?

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

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Goodreads description--"Hello, Katriona." Those two words spark fear in Katriona Wilde and give way to an unlikely partnership with Perth, the man she's been traded to marry for a favor. Saving her true love and protector Arland, her family, and their soldiers keeps her motivated, but the at-odds duo soon realizes trust is something that comes and goes with each breath of Encardia's rotting, stagnant air. The moment when concern for her missing sister spirals out of control, all thoughts of trust are pushed aside and she finds herself trapped by the daemon tricks Perth warned her of. However, rescuing those she loves is only half the problem. Kate still must get to Willow Falls, unite her clashing people, and form an army prepared to fight in order to defeat Darkness. When so many she's grown fond of die along the journey, her ability to play by the gods' rules is tested. How will she make allies when the world appears stacked against her? And will she still be Katriona Wilde, the girl with fire?

I never should have requested Wilde's Army for review. Wilde's Fire was better than I was expecting; however, between the writing and the ending of Wilde's Fire, I just wasn't excited at all about starting Wilde's Army. When I saw Wilde's Army available on NetGalley for review I requested it without thinking much because I had not yet broken my obsessive need to "complete" things--in this case this series. But since requesting Wilde's Army, I've made much progress in being able to let go of this obsession. Time is too short.

I did indeed start Wilde's Army. And I did press on to try to complete it. I made it to 20% which translates into roughly 70 pages. I know that's not very far into the book, but you have to considering that I've already read 390+ pages in this series and by this author. I feel completely comfortable with the effort I've put in to Wilde's Army.

The same struggles I had with Wilde's Fire were there and more in Wilde's Army. Kate's 20 years old, but she behaves and speaks much younger. Where Kate's sister, Brit, seemed more mature than Kate in Wilde's Fire, I didn't really feel like that was the case thus far in Wilde's Army. I still don't like the alternate dimensions aspect of this series, but this was less of an issue in the 20% of Wilde's Army that I've read since there's really no travelling back and forth in this portion of the series. My other general complaint of Wilde's Fire was just that the book was mainly average. However, I've read some truly stellar books this year, and I don't feel like this series or the writing measures up to the level of these other books.

A new struggle for me in Wilde's Army--or at least I didn't point this out before--is the dialogue. The characters repeatedly call each other by name. While I've definitely noticed that a lot of books do this more than people use each others' names in real life, Wilde's Army goes beyond this to the point of being really awkward, making the dialogue feel forced. Specifically in Wilde's Army there's a section where one character says, (paraphrasing) "We can't stay here long. It's dangerous." But then the group proceeds to have a discussion right there that lasts like 10 pages, and another character interrupts and says, "We can discuss this later. We really need to leave this place." The dialogue and decisions made by the characters feels forced and awkward.

I intended to continue trying to push through this book, even if I had to do it 5 pages at the time, but I've come to a place in my reading life where I just don't want to do this. I want to read for fun--always. Someone else may be in love this series. I'm sure it's the perfect fit for someone out there--perhaps a younger readers--but that someone just isn't me.

I don't rate my DNFs, but what do you think? Have you read Wilde's Army? Is this one I should consider picking back up later? Does the ending make up for the rest of the flaws? Let me know!

This review is part of my "All Things Halloween" October review event.

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Goodreads description--It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Wow! Guys, I loved This is Not a Test. I'm honestly not even sure where to begin. Courtney Summers has some major writing talent and while I don't think her other work is zombie related, I've seen enough to prompt me into reading more of her writing.

This is Not a Test is told from the POV of a girl during the zombie apocalypse who doesn't really want to live. And while throughout the zombie books I've read there always seems to be a character that just can't hack the way the world has gone to pot and said character decides to off themselves, but that's not how things go down with Sloane. Sloane had pretty much given up BEFORE the world goes nuts. Thus the contrast of seeing the zombie apocalypse from the point of view of someone who isn't trying to survive. It was different, and I love different.

Of course, I'm not condoning suicide at all, and Sloane is prevented from letting the zombies or herself take her life time and time again by conscience and a variety of other things. It's was so refreshing to watch Sloane find reasons to live rather than the other way around. I think in a lot of zombie books the character becomes so beat down with the way their new world is and seeing friend after friend die that they lose hope by the end, but this was the exact opposite of This is Not a Test and I loved it for that.

I did struggle with Sloane a little bit in the beginning because of how she wanted to give up and just give in, but I still felt extremely connected to her as a character. I LOVED Rhys. He latches on to Sloane pretty early on and I love how he slowly showed her what it is to open her heart back up. The other characters were pretty easy to get attached to as well, Cary, Grace, and even Harrison. The only character I had a hard time liking was Trace.

This is Not a Test is a story about finding hope, finding a reason to live when there might seem like there are no more reasons. It's about seeing how far you're willing to go to survive, who you can trust, and who can trust you when the worst comes to worst. We didn't see much interaction with the actual zombies throughout the book--really just the beginning and the end. But I didn't mind because there were so many dynamics going on within this group of characters.

As I said before, Courtney Summers has some mad writing skills. She reminds me a little of Maggie Stiefvater in that her writing comes off as truly poetic at time. I'm not quite sure it's as lyrical as Maggie S, but here are some examples:

pg 9 - He stares at her body and sits there, drenched in someone else's life, and he looks so calm, like he knew this was coming, like the way this morning started it was only ever going to end up like this.

Pg 22 - Harrison starts to cry. he stands in the middle of the room and holds himself because no one else will and it's the loneliest thing I've ever seen.

pg 89 - It must be awful to find out your life is worth nothing to someone else. I want to tell Cary he's not worthless. Harrison probably needs him. (Ok this one had me busting out laughing...Oh Sloane....)

Pg 263 - Each step forward is a slow and hateful thing.

Like I said, poetic. This is Not a Test exceeded so many expectations for me. 4.5 Stars. Have you read This is Not a Test? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my "All Things Halloween" October review event.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Blurb:

Thrust into a world of Native American legends about Skinwalkers and Ancient Ones, Emma Hunter finds herself in the middle of a battle for a heart holding great powers – A heart hidden within her.

Seventeen-year-old Emma wants what every teenage girl wants: a life that revolves around school, her friends, and a boyfriend who only has eyes for her. Little does she know that in order to get one, she must sacrifice the other two. After a series of events put into motion by Luke, the boy she thought loved her, Emma is kicked out of her group home and her school. Her best friend mysteriously vanishes and now she’s forced to move to a secluded coastal town, where she hopes to escape Luke’s obsessive control. Instead, she finds her dreams invaded not only by Luke, but Solomon, a mysterious Native American warrior sent to protect her.

But when Solomon shows up in her reality to explain he’s her protector, she soon learns that he’s so much more. As Emma struggles to understand what’s happening to her, she must also deal with her undeniable attraction to Solomon. Their connection is stronger than anything Emma has ever experienced before and now she must decide: can she trust him with her heart? And just how far will she go to protect it?

About the Author:

Connie Ann Michael was raised a city girl, but was converted to a country girl after college and now resides in a speck of a town in Central Washington State. She is married to her former boss as she worked at the local Pizza place and has two college age boys that provide endless material for her books. She loves the outdoors and can be found mountain biking, kayaking, or camping with her family. Being a busy family, she can be found working on her newest novel while on long road trips.

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Goodreads description--When a gorgeous young dancer walks through his door, a strip club owner must decide whether to follow his rules or his heart in the third novel by the author of One Tiny Lie and Ten Tiny Breaths.

Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.

Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.

I haven't posted my reviews of Ten Tiny Breaths or One Tiny Lie yet, but both are coming up in the next month. Be on the look out for those. But I've really enjoyed this series so far. Can't wait for this one. What are you waiting on this week? Let me know!

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Goodreads description--From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

I've had the Morganville Vampires series on my TBR list for quite some time. It's popped up as recommended to me by Amazon and loads of other places. I've seen people who say these books are really good and even funny. So when I saw that my local library had Glass Houses on audiobook, I jumped on the opportunity to check it out.

Audiobooks can be a hit or miss for me with the narration. When I first started listening to Glass Houses, the narrator (Cynthia Holloway) totally wasn't doing it for me. She was fairly monotone and I found myself spacing out too easily. I got a good twenty minutes in before I realized that I hadn't heard anything that she said and I had to start over. I think once the story finally hooked me, it was easier to ignore the less than stellar narrator and get into the book itself.

Claire is a fairly likable character. She unknowingly moves to a town that is pretty much run by vampires in order to attend college early. Most of the residents are aware of the vampire world around them and have sought out protection from those vampires. Claire, however, is pretty much oblivious to what's going on around her until she moves out of the dorm she lives in and moves into a house with a ragtag group of characters a couple of years older than her.

Claire's roommates were an interesting bunch of characters. Eve who taunts the vampires by dressing gothic. Michael who has a secret that only Claire knows. And Shane who's haunted by the fact that his sister was murdered by the hands of these creatures and the humans under their protection. This group accepts Claire into their house at differing rates and for different reasons, but they all become her family.

Overall, I didn't particularly see anything about Glass Houses that blew me away. It was a pretty average read for me in all aspects. I had parts that I dreaded putting it down and therefore was excited when I was allowed to return to it. But I didn't rush through it. The characters were interesting, but not on the level of others that I've read. The plot was decent, but at this point in my reading experiences, nothing new. I do plan to continue reading the series in order to see where things go and hopefully to come across some of this humor that I've heard talked about concerning the series which I found absent from Glass Houses.

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About Me

I wear my hair up alot - grew up a bit of a tom boy. With one brother and one sister, I played football with the boys as much as barbie dolls with the girls. I love romance and I married my best friend. God has blessed me. And I want to return the favor.

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